Electrolier.



J. H. JOHNS.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAI'N CO., WASHINGTON. u. c.

J. H. JOHNS.

ELEGTROLIER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1912.

1,090, 1 54. Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

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J. H. JOHNS.

ELEGTROLIER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1912. 1,090,1 54:, Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

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'A TTOR/VEY JOHN H. JOHNS, OF LEAVENWORT'H, KANSAS.

ELECTROLIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Pat ented Ma r. 17, 1914..

Application filed July 2, 1912. Serial No. 707,269.

and useful Improvements in Electroliers;

and I. do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention.

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon. which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to clectroliers, and has for its principal objectto provide an extensible elcctrolier which may be lowered from a ceilingposition so that it may be used as a reading or desk lamp and returnedto its upper position. In accomplishing this object, I have providedextensible circuit members which may travel with the fixture, togetherwith a switch which is operable from the fixture, so that the current iscon rolled at the fixture and whereby the latter may be raised orlowered without; interrupting the current.

I have also provided improved details of structure by which the abovenamed objects are accomplished, the preferred form being illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. wherein Figure I is a perspective view of anelectrolier, constructed according to my invention, showing the fixturein lowered position, in dotted lines. Fig. II is an enlarged vcrticalsection of part of the top of the fixture, showing the circuit conduitand anti-trio tion, non-conducting fiber rollers over which the circuitwires are conducted. Fig. III is a perspective view oi": the upper partof the hanger showing its coi'nbination with a ceiling plate. Fig. IV isa vertical section of the base of the fixture showing the takeup spoolfor the circuit wires, with the contact devices and connections from thecontact devices to the lamps. Fig. V is a cross section of the take-upspool and contact devices. Fig. VI is a side view of the spool,sl'lowing the intake for the circuit wires. Fig. VII is a face view ofthe switch. Fig. VIII is an enlarged perspective of part of the switchdisk. showing the arrangement of the inclined tracks. Fig. IX is a faceview of the flexible brush. Fig. X is an enlarged side elevation of oneof the tracks,

the brush and an actuating post. Fig. XI is a perspective view of partsof the switch. the brush plate and the parts carried or actuatedthereby. Fig. XII is a detail view 0t the keeper :tor the spooltightening nut. ltig. i\llI is a vertical section 01' the telescopingfixture hanger. Fig. XIV is a dctail view o't' part of one of the fiberdisks in the contact mechanism, showing a slot bv which the disk isfixed in the case.

Ile'l erring more in detail to the parts :-l designates a ceiling plate,which may be attached to a fixture stand, and has an aperture tin-(nighwhich circuit wires 3 are pr0- ected, said wires being attached to thebottom of the plate by a strap -:l-. or the like, so that should thefixture be removed from the plate the strain on the wires would becarried by the strap to prevent disconnection of the wires from thehouse circuit above the plate.

Fixed to the plate 1. is a cap 5 which carries a hollow hanger t), thelatter having a non-coinlucting libcr plug 7 in its upper end,comprising a tubular body portion and a flange 8, which latter fitssnugly within the hanger and is secured thereto by screws 9, whichextend through the cap and hanger and fix all ot said parts together.

'lclescoping within the upper hanger section (3 is a lower section 10,which is necessarily smaller than the first section, and has a fiberplug 11 fixed snugly within its upper end and provided with a flange 12which projects over the end of the hanger section 10 and bears snuglyagainst the inner surface of the upper section (3.

Depending from the upper section 6 is a cap 13 which is turned under thelower edge of said section 6 and bears snugly against the lower section10. so that it will allow :lree telescoping movement of the lowersection within the upper, but will engage the flange of the fiber plug11 and prevent the removal of the lower section from the upper.

It is apparent that any desired number oi. hanger sections may beprovided according to the height through which it is desired to adjustthe fixture.

In the lower fixture section 1.4 is an inverted plug 15, the flange 1.6of which extends laterally below the hanger section and connects withthe inside of the dome 17 of the spool casing 18, a pair of rollers 19being extended transversely within the spool at opposite sides of theplug channel to form anti-friction guides for the circuit wires 3, asthe latter pass from the hanger into the spool.

Fixed in the front plate 20, of the spooi casing 18, preferably byswaging, and extending through an aperture in the. back late 21 is ashaft the front end of the shaft being preferably squared and providedwith a fiber bushing the opposite end also being squared and havingtapered section 24 spaced inwardly from the back plate. Slidably mountedon the tapered portion 24 is a disk 25, having an outwardly projectinghub 26 and having a beveled outer face.

Revolubly mounted on the bushing 23 and the hub of disk 25 are the enddisks 27 and 28, of a take-up spool 29, having a slot 30 (Fig. VI)through which the circuit wires 3 are projected. Fixed to the spool, andto the shaft 22, and wound upon the shaft within the spool, is a clock,or a like spring, 29, whereby the spool is tensioned to take up thecircuit wires, as will presently be more fully explained.

Extending over the squared portion of the rear end of shaft 22, andbearing against the fiber disk 28, is a spacing washer 31, whichseparates the spool disk from the back of the base and forms a bushingfor supporting the contact disk and the insulating disk Fixed on therear end of shaft 22 is a nut 34 and separating the nut from the backplate of the casing is a washer 35 having a threaded outer surfacecarrying a thumb nut 36. The inner end of nut 36 has a circumferentialgroove 37 into which a circular keeper plate 38, that is fixed on aspacing block 39, carried by the back plate of the casing, is projected,so that when the nut is turned the collar will be forced inwardly oroutwardly to allow the shaft to move inwardly or to force the sameoutwardly.

It is apparent that when the shaft is drawn outwardly by the adjustingnut, the bevel faced disk 25 is drawn against the inner face of thespool disk 28 to act as a brake for the spool, whereas adjustment of thenutin the opposite direction will tend to loosen the spool, therebyregulating the freedom of the spool.

In order to extend the lighting circuit to the exterior of the spool,and to the lamps, I provide the spool with contacts, one of whichcomprises a copper, or like, plate 40, which is fixed on the outer faceof the spool disk 28, and to which one of the circuit wires isconnected.

Fixed on the disk 32, so that it is wiped by the contact plate 40 on thespool, is a copper, or like, disk 42, having an arm 43 projected fromthe contact device and connecting with a wire 44 leading to a lamp. Theouter face of the other spool disk 27 is countersunk, and lying withinthe countersink is a copper, or like, ring 45, the outer edge of thering being covered by a fiber ring 46 carried by the disk 27 and spacingthe contact member from the rest of the device, and particularlyprotecting same from the switch brush.

Mounted on the bushing 23 is a copper disk 47, of less diameter than theother disks in the contact device, and covered on both sides and at itsperiphery by fiber washers and a ring numbered 48, 49 and 50. The copperdisk has arcuatile slots 51, and fixed to the ribs 52, at the ends ofthe slots, is a conductor wire 53, the portions of the wire projectingthrough the slots being loose so that they will have play transverselyof the disk. Fixed on the wire 53 in each of said slots is a brush 54which is adapted for contacting the copper plate 011 the outer spooldisk when the wire is pushed inwardly, as will presently be described.The brush disk 47 has an end 55 projected into the spool casing andconnected with a wire 56 which leads to a lamp and forms the oppositetera minal to wire 44.

Mounted on the bushing 23 is a fiber disk 57 and fixed to opposite sidesof the disk 57 are insulating washers and a ring numbered 53, 59 and 60,the latter being fixed to the casing by a screw 61, and by theengagementof slotted portions 58, etc., with lips 61 on the inside ofthe casing through which the screws 61 are projected, so that theWashers and disk are held against revoluble movement within the casing.The disk 57 has arcuatile slots 62 corresponding to the slots 51 of thebrush disk, and mounted on the ribs 63, at the ends of the slots, areguide plates 64, having longitudinal slots 65, each guide plate havingone end fixed to the outer face of a rib and its opposite end fixed tothe inner face of a next rib so that the plates are inclined.

Fixed to each brush 54 on the wire 53, carried by the copper disk 47, isa post 67 which extends outwardly through the slot in one of theinclined guide plates 64 of the switch disk and has a keeper 68 held tothe outer face of the guard by a pin 69. A coil spring 70 surrounds eachpost and bears against the brush and against a washer 71 which isslidably mounted on the post and adapted to bear against the inner faceof the guard plate to hold the parts yieldingly together.

The switch disk 57 has a handle 72 projected through a slot 73 in thespool casing so that the switch may be operated from the outside of thecasing when the electrolier is in either its elevated or loweredposition.

In using the device, presuming the part-s to be assembled as described,and the spool spring tensioned, the tension of the spring and frictionof the telescoping hanger members will retain the electrolier in itsupper position. \Vhen it is desired to use the electrolier as a desk orreaifling lamp, it is low ered against the tension of the spool springso that the cord will unwind from the spool while the hanger members areextended, the raising or lowering merely tending to unwind or wind thecord and revolve the spool without altecting the parts of the contactdevice. When the lamps are to be lighted, when the electrolier is ateither its upper or lower position, the switch handle is moved in theslot to force the brush post inwardly so that the brush will contact thecopper plate on the outer spool disk, thereby completing a circuit.through the lamp to the copper disk on the rear of the spool andenergizing the lamp. When the current is to be cut off the switch handleis moved in the opposite direction to move the post outwardly and breakthe contact with the spool plate, thereby breaking the circuit.

It is apparent that a contact may be made or maintained when theelectrolier is at any point within its extensible limits, as the contact member on the rear spool plate constantly wipes its cooperatingmember, and the contact member on the front spool plate may be engagedby the brush irrespective of the position or action of the drum. It isalso apparent that the device may be used as with a drop light orspecific form of electrolier, as the particular design shown herein wasselected merely for the purpose of illustration.

Having thus described my invention, what I. claim as new therein anddesire to secure by LettersP-atent, is

1. In an electrolier, a casing, a spool revolubly mounted within saidcasing and provided with contact members, circuit wires wound on thespool and connected with said contact members, a switch, and a brushoperable from the switch, and adapted for wiping one of the spoolcontacts to close a circuit, for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electrolier, a revoluble spool having contact plates on itsouter faces, circuit, wires fixed to the spool and connected with saidcontact members, a permanent contact member constantly engagii'ig one ofthe spool contacts, a brush adapted for engaging the other spoolcontact, a switch for actuating said brush, and means for connecting thepermanent contact and brush with a lamp, for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electrolier, the combination with a revoluble spool, ofseparate contact plates on opposite ends of the spool, a permanentcontact plate having constant engagement with one of the drum plates, abrush carrier, a brush mounted on the carrier and adapted for movementinto and out of contact with the second spool plate, switch foractuating the brush, and means for closing a circuit from the permanentcontact to the brush, for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electrolier, the combination with a revolublc spool, havingseparate contact plates, of a fixed contact member constantly engagingone of the spool plates, :1 brush carrier, a brush on said carriercomprising a flexible conductor, a switch adapted for flexing thecoiuluctor toward or from the second spool plate, and means for closinga circuitfrom the fixed contact to the brush.

In an electrolier, the ('Oll'lblllill'lflll with a revoluble spool, ofcontact members carried by the spool, circuit wires fixed to the spooland connected with the contact memt as; mem er at a re "or hers, a, nodcont (t b l t d t constant engagement with one of the spool plates, abrush carrier comprising a slotted conductor, wires carried by theconductor and crossing the slots thereof, brush members carried by thewire and adapted for contacting the second contact; member on the spool,and a switch connected with said wire and adapted for flexing sametoward or from. the spool contact, for the purpose set forth.

(3. In an electrolier, the combination with a revoluble spool, ofcontact members carried by the spool, circuit wires fixed to the spool,and connected with the contact members, a brush carrier, a brush on saidcarrier adapted for movement toward and from the spool, a switchcomprising an inclined guide, pins connected with the brush andprojecting to the guide, and means adapted for travel on the guide andconnected with the pin for moving the brush laterally when the guide ismoved across said means.

7. Tn an eleetrolier, the combination with a revoluble spool, havingcontact members, of circuit wires fixed to the spool and connected withthe contact members, a laterally movable brush adapted for contactingone of the spool members, a slotted disk, inclined guides extendingacross the disk slots and provided with slots, pins on the brushextending through the guide slots, and keepers on the ends of the pinsand engagingthe guides whereby the brush is moved laterally when thedisk is revolved.

8. In an eleetrolier, the con'ibination with a revoluble spool. havingcontact members, of circuit wires fixed to the spool and connected withthe contact members, a later-- ally movable brush adapted for contactingone of the spool members, a revoluble, slotted disk, guide platesextending across the disk slots and tixed to opposite faces of the ribsat the ends of said slots to provide an incline, said guides beingprovided with areuatile slots, pins on said brush projecting through theguide slots, and keepers on said pins whereby the latter are actuatedwhen the disk is revolved, for the purpose set forth.

9. In an electrolier, the combination with a casing, a spool revolublymounted within the casing and provided with contact members, circuitwires fixed to the spool and connecting with the contact menlbers, alater ally movable brush adapted for contacting one of the spoolmembers, spacing disks mounted within the casing, a slotted switch diskrevolubly mounted within the casing between said spacing, disks andhaving a handle portion projecting through a slot in the casing, guidesextending at an incline through the switch disk slots, pins on the brushprojecting through said slots, keepers on said pins whereby the pins aremoved laterally when the switch disk is revolved, and means for closingthe circuit from the first spool plate to said brush, substantially asset forth. 7

10'. In an electrolier, the combination with extensible hangers, of acasing carried by the hangers, a shaft extending through said casing, aspool revolubly mounted on the shaft, wires extending through thehangers and fixed to the spool, a brush within the casing, a switchwithin the casing and having a handle extending to the exterior thereof,means operatively connecting the brush with the switch, a tension memberon said shaftand contacting the spool, a sleeve on said shaft outsidethe spool and contacting therewith, a keeper fixed to the outside of thespool, a nut on said shaft at the end of the sleeve, and a thumb nutthreaded on said sleeve and held by the keeper, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. JOHNS. lVitnesses IRENE Con, LETA E. Co'A'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patent: Washington, D. G.

